THE Only Way to Watch TV
Written: Mar 04 '01 (Updated Apr 23 '01)
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Pros: Compress viewing time, built-in TV Guide, nice multi-function remote.
Cons: Initial expense, remote consumes lots of batteries, how long will service last?
The Bottom Line: Forget taping programs with a VCR. This is the only way to experience TV.
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| auggieben's Full Review: Panasonic PV-HS1000 (20.4 GB) 20-Hours Video Recor... |
Let me start by saying this ultimate TV experience. I'm very glad I've got one and I'd do it again. There! With that out of the way, here are some of my gripes:
It's expensive! I paid $600 for the 30 hour model. I'm supposed to get a $100 rebate any day now - we'll see about that. That brings the final cost to $500. $200 of that amount goes to "lifetime" membership in the Replay TV schedule membership. That's a lot of money and I hope this outfit keeps their promise and can remain solvent. Replay has altered their business strategy by focusing on software and services as opposed to hardware. With companies like Panasonic selling hardware, I feel that Replay has a better chance to survive.
[Update: 3 months - still waiting for $100 rebate.]
[Update: 4 months - still no rebate. Lots or calls to the rebate clearing house, ReplayTV, Panasonic and I find that my submitted became "lost". Panasonic was kind enough to prod Replay for the rebate and it eventually came.]
I've only owned this model for 2 months and I've already gone through 3 sets of alkaline batteries for the remote. I'm not sure if the kids are getting the remote wedged in the sofa cushions and the buttons are constantly pressed on, but none of the millions of other remotes I've had over the years go through batteries like this thing.
[Update: After the 4th change of batteries, I went ballistic and emailed Panasonic via their web site and got a polite response that my complaint would be handled in a timely manner - BULL! Called their 800 # and spoke to their tech support. They wanted me to send the remote in for repairs. I explained that without the remote the Showstopper is useless. Unlike VCRs, the Showstopper has no buttons to record/play programs - just an On/Off button. Furthermore, I explained their technicians wouldn't bother to fix the remote, it's more cost-efficient to just send a new out. The tech stuck to his script and repeated their policy. I went to a higher level and finally got a new remote shipped to me. This one seems to be more conservative with the batteries.]
I record everything at the lowest quality setting - equivalent to extended (6 hr) recording on my VCR. The sound is not as good as TiVo's sound in that format. But I'm a bit picky. It doesn't bother the wife or kids.
On the positive side, even though the remote sucks the life out of the batteries, it does handle all of my other A/V equipment, so I don't need to litter the coffee table with a handful of remotes.
I don't know how I lived without this device. I can watch a 1 hour program in just 45 minutes. I record everything I want to see and watch the program when I WANT to watch it. I skip past commercials with just a few presses of the remote. You will get so attached to this thing that you'll never want to watch live TV again.
I look forward to watching a 3.5 hour baseball game in about 2 hours this summer - without commercials!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 599.00
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Epinions.com ID:
auggieben
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Reviews written: 2
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